Category: Music

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INTERVIEW: MeMe Detroit

Words & interview by Ed King / Live pic by Callum Lees

“I called it an EP of uplift angst – it’s in your face, but it’s got a nice positive message underneath it as well… fuck the negative, put a positive spin on it and write about the good stuff. The happy stuff, the stuff that makes you feel good.”

Described as ‘Silently observational’, ‘fearlessly immersed’, the ‘Queen of grunge’ and our personal favourite, ‘effortlessly cool’, MeMe Detroit crosses the boundaries from blues to indie rock.

Storming onto the Birmingham music scene with her debut album, Live to Love You’ll Love to Live, in 2016, MeMe Detroit has been a regular fixture on listings in the Midlands and beyond ever since. ‘Hard working’ could certainly be added to the list.

Her latest EP, Life in the Now, was released in November 2018 – following a sell out gig with REWS and Thousand Thoughts at The Flapper in Birmingham and a successful promotional tour across the wider UK.

MeMe Detroit’s latest single, ‘Will You Be My Lie?’, was released in May 2019 – exploring the complications and computations when a wondering eye turns into a divisive secret. Hence the title. But narrative is strong across all MeMe Detroit’s portfolio, with tracks from her latest EP exploring themes of social restraint (and a healthy push the other way), identity, love, betrayal, and our obsession with social media. There’s even a happy homage to one of Birmingham’s prominent live music venues, but you’ll have to listen to Life in the Now and work that out for yourself.

Birmingham Review last saw MeMe Detroit at the NOT NORMAL NOT OK live gig fundraiser at the Hare & Hounds on Friday 7th June – after she was put forward as the headline act by BBC Introducing, who were supporting the gig and ongoing campaign to challenge sexual assault in the music scene. Since then there have been highs, lows, line up and costume changes…

Ed King caught up with MeMe Detroit for a chat and special acoustic performance of ‘Will You Be My Lie?’ at Cherry Reds on John Bright Street in Birmingham – ahead of her full band set at the Hare & Hounds on Thursday 25th July, and a further acoustic set as part of the Female Voices Night at Tower of Song on Sunday 28th July.

Watch the full interview below, or click here to jump straight to the song.

Interview with MeMe Detroit – includes acoustic performance of ‘Will You Be My Lie?’ @ Cherry Reds 19.07.19

MeMe Detroit will be playing a full band set at the Hare & Hounds on Thursday 25th July, alongside Hollows and Namsakē. For direct event details and online tickets, visit www.bit.ly/2y9gpd6

MeMe Detroit will be playing an acoustic set as part of the Female Voices Night at Tower of Song on Sunday 28th July – with Ellie Gowers & Chloe Mogg. For direct event details and online ticket sales, visit www.facebook.com/events/711942659235581

For more on MeMe Detroit, visit www.memedetroit.com

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NOT NORMAL NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To learn more about the NOT NORMAL NOT OK campaign, click here. To sign up and join the NOT NORMAL NOT OK campaign, click here.

If you have been affected by any of the issues surrounding sexual violence – or if you want to report an act of sexual aggression, abuse or assault – click here for information via the ‘Help & Support’ page on the NOT NORMAL NOT OK website.

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INTERVIEW: The Assist

Words by Ed King

“For me, this song was just about portraying a message that if you want to achieve something then it’s just a dream away.”

On Saturday 6th July, The Assist celebrated the launch of their new single, ‘It’s Just a Dream Away’, with a special headline show at The Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham – alongside George Pannell and Flake as support.

Launching their debut Lost EP back in August 2018, it’s been quite a year for Midlands indie pop rockers – with a steady flow of gigs across the UK underpinning an evolving sound and the singles to prove it.

There’s also been bit of a musical milestone abroad, as The Assist were invited on a six date tour across Russia with The Twang and Riscas – including a chance for the Walsall four piece to play a headline set at the Ural Night Music Festival in front of 12,000 strong audience.

Released on Friday 5th July, ‘It’s Just a Dream Away’ has already been picking up a fair amount of momentum and attention – to listen to ‘It’s Just a Dream Away’ click on the single artwork to your left, or the following highlighted links to stream it via Spotify or The Assist’s Soundcloud page.

And with The Assist‘s Lost EP finding a respectable place in both Spotify’s United Kingdom Top 50 and iTunes’ Top 10 Indie charts, alongside another track from their back catalogue lined up for the Made in Chelsea soundtrack, it’s not bad going for a band that once off the cuff described themselves as ‘council pop-rap-rock’.

There are plans already underway to release second EP, with another festival also in the offing – this time a little closer to home, when The Assist will stand at the top of the Smirnoff Presents Saturday night bill at Sheffield’s three day Tramlines music event on 20th July.

So, it looks set to be another busy 12months for The Assist – but don’t just take out word for it…

Ed King caught up with The Assist lead singer, Mikey Stanton, a few hours before their single launch party at The Sunflower Lounge on Saturday 6th July – click on the video link below to see the full interview with Birmingham Review.

Interview with Mikey Stanton from The Assist @ The Sunflower Lounge 06.07.19

The Assist released their latest single, ‘It’s Just a Dream Away’, on Friday 5th July – available to stream through Spotify, the band’s social media and Soundcloud page. For more on The Assist, visit www.facebook.com/TheAssistBand

The Assist headline the Smirnoff Presents Saturday stage Club Totem on 20th July, as part of this year’s Tramlines festival in Sheffield. For direct gig info, click here to visit the Facebook event page.

For more from Hey Honey, visit www.hey-honey.co.uk
For more on The Sunflower Lounge, including venue details and further event listings, visit www.thesunflowerlounge.com

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NOT NORMAL NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To learn more about the NOT NORMAL NOT OK campaign, click here. To sign up and join the NOT NORMAL NOT OK campaign, click here.

If you have been affected by any of the issues surrounding sexual violence – or if you want to report an act of sexual aggression, abuse or assault – click here for information via the ‘Help & Support’ page on the NOT NORMAL NOT OK website.

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BPREVIEW: GHUM @ The Sunflower Lounge 14.07.19

Words by Ed King / Pics courtesy of Indie Midlands

On Sunday 14th July, GHUM play at The Sunflower Lounge – with support from Aufbau Principle, P.E.T and Pretty Vile.

Doors open at 7:30pm, with tickets priced at £6 (+bf) – as presented by Indie Midlands. For direct gig info, including venue details and links to online ticket sales, click here.

Out on the road with their new EP, The Coldest Fire, GHUM are stopping off for a Sunday night soirée in Birmingham – playing their second gig in the second city, before up to Manchester and beyond on an eight date UK tour.

Released though the London based Everything Sucks Music on 28th June – home to Dream Nails, Wolf Girl and Birmingham’s erstwhile Okinawa Picture Show (last seen…?) – The Coldest Fire is a thicker broth than its 2017 predecessor.

Opening with ‘Saturn’, an immediate foundation of frenetic drums and bass (from Vicki Butler and Marina MJ respectively) gives way to Jojo Khor’s piercing guitar lead and Laura Guerrero Lora’s subtle, brooding vocals. Relentless and bold, citing the EP’s title in the second verse, this opening track is a solid introduction to the whole release – which celebrates all the wonderful and dark corners of GHUM’s self-described ‘ghost grunge’.

Produced by Adam Jaffrey, who has worked with acts from Beach Baby to Ekkah to Lucy Rose, the EP’s second half does loosen its grip a bit – with a softer threat to the first two tracks otherwise clear cut knife to the cheek. But don’t be fooled, whilst ‘1000 Men’ and ‘In My Head’ might be a little epinephrine deficient they can still stand up and fight.

Perhaps, however, The Coldest Fire’s brightest moment is in its second track and lead single, ‘Get Up’, with just over four minutes of low menace and rising panic that throw us around the sonic spectrum with frightening control. As a child of the 90’s, who grew up on the foreboding prophecies of early Sup Pop and Swervedriver, this sends me back to the frivolities of my twisted metal youth.

Like an audio ghost train crashing through the walls of a mescaline hall of mirrors; cracking stuff. And God loves a metaphor… at least, that’s what you get in the absence of any Darjeeling railway anecdotes. Out now; enjoy.

‘Get Up’ – GHUM

GHUM play at The Sunflower Lounge on Sunday 14th July, with support from Aufbau Principle, P.E.T and Pretty Vile – as presented by Indie Midlands. For direct gig info and links to online ticket sales, click here to visit the Facebook event page.

For more on GHUM, visit www.ghum.bandcamp.com

For more Aufbau Principle, visit www.aufbauprinciple.bandcamp.com
For more P.E.T, visit www.facebook.com/petbanduk
For more on Pretty Vile, visit www.soundcloud.com/prettyvile

For more from Indie Midlands, including further event listings and stories from the region’s indie and alternative music scene, visit www.indiemidlands.com

For more on The Sunflower Lounge, including venue details and further event listings, visit www.thesunflowerlounge.com

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NOT NORMAL NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To learn more about the NOT NORMAL NOT OK campaign, click here. To sign up and join the NOT NORMAL NOT OK campaign, click here.

If you have been affected by any of the issues surrounding sexual violence – or if you want to report an act of sexual aggression, abuse or assault – click here for information via the ‘Help & Support’ page on the NOT NORMAL NOT OK website.

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SINGLE: In My Element – The Clause 12.07.19

Words by Lydia Fitzer / Pics courtesy of The Clause

The Clause came to my attention in May of 2018, as the first of five bands performing in one gig. You’d think I’d have been more excited for the later acts, right? I mean, The Clause were the support of the support of the support of the support. You’d be wrong; so wrong, in fact, that I went on to dub them the biggest highlight of the evening. I positively raved about them. They gave by far the most original and enjoyable set of the night.

The thing you need to understand about The Clause is that they are too cool. They are sickeningly cool. I think they were born cool. When I saw them in 2018 they were in their late teens and already cooler than I have been in my whole life, but now they’ve ascended to a new level of coolness. (I can’t help but feel that it’s a little unfair – young people shouldn’t be allowed to be that badass. After all, the rest of us spent our teen years flailing under ten layers of dream matte mousse and social awkwardness. However, I digress.)

The Clause’s latest single, ‘In My Element’, is truly characteristic of their style. It’s masterfully put together; the deep, thrumming guitar riff is a proper earworm on its own and had me grooving within the first few seconds. The Clause showcased ‘In My Element’ at the aforementioned gig back in 2018, and I stand by what I said in my review: it’s enough to ‘make any rinky-dink panther dance’.

That analogy makes more sense knowing that the band used to incorporate the Pink Panther theme into the beginning of ‘In My Element’ – an effective quirk for a live show, making the crowd giggle with novelty. With that said, I understand why they didn’t keep it as part of the recorded single, probably coming across as a touch gimmicky. The Clause certainly have a sense of humour but make no mistake – they are here to be taken seriously.

They may be young, but they channel old-school in every note. Listening to ‘In My Element’ I could almost be at a record store playing a cassette, the sound is just so slick. It makes me want to oil my hair and stride down the street in a leather jacket and shades. Frontman Peirce McMenamin (vocals and guitar) is an absolute dream for this style. He has a nonchalant tenor vocal which is somehow both mellow in tone and edgy in delivery, keeping his voice regional and unstudied so it doesn’t feel forced.

‘In My Element’ ends a on playful chant – the musical equivalent of a wink and a cheeky grin. The Clause are getting sleeker and more refined with every new record, but I’m glad to see that they’re holding on to the imaginative flair that makes them truly special.

‘In My Element’ (official teaser) – The Clause

 

On Friday 12th July, The Clause release their latest single ‘In My Element’ – available to buy online via iTunes and The Clause’s own website shop. For more on The Clause, visit www.theclause.co.uk

Coinciding with the release of ‘In My Element’, The Clause will be playing at Nambucca in London on 13th July, as promoted by This Feeling  – click here for event details and ticket sales. 

For further tour and live gig dates from The Clause, visit www.theclause.co.uk/live

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NOT NORMAL NOT OK is a campaign to encourage safety and respect within live music venues, and to combat the culture of sexual assault and aggression – from dance floor to dressing room.

To learn more about the NOT NORMAL NOT OK campaign, click here. To sign up and join the NOT NORMAL NOT OK campaign, click here.

If you have been affected by any of the issues surrounding sexual violence – or if you want to report an act of sexual aggression, abuse or assault – click here for information via the ‘Help & Support’ page on the NOT NORMAL NOT OK website.